My Inside Look at How One Superhero Gadget Can Save Your Home Hundreds

Spring hasn't arrived in my high desert climate in central Oregon, and this lightly snowing March morning is chilly, especially in my office far away from both the thermostat and the fireplace. But I have a quick fix for this. "Hey Google, show me my thermostat," I say. "Got it," my Nest display responds. It brings up all my Nest thermostat settings, including a large dial on the touchscreen. At a touch, I move the temperature up a couple of degrees to keep the heat lasting longer than usual. A voice command would have worked too, but I like the tactile control when my display is handy. Finally, I take my wireless satellite sensor — it looks like a large, white pebble you'd find in a river — and perch it on a nearby shelf. My thermostat uses the sensor's readings in combination with the primary thermostat in the hall, picking up on temperatures in the spots where people actually spend time. Like me, currently shivering in front of my computer. These are only a few of the tricks in ... Read full article.